The Role of the English Language in Chile

The English language seems to be an unavoidable force in the world of international communication. Countries all over the world have adopted English, easily or with much difficulty, because knowing and using a potential lingua franca has an immense economic upside. For this reason, few countries have made it a point not to cash in on the spread of the English language. Chile, for the most part, is one of these countries. Since the country does not take ownership of English, it would be more effective to look at some of the possible reasons why the language has not found a place in Chile. English likely has such a small role in Chile because of relations with the U.S. and creative literature and notoriety.

CHILE AND THE LACK OF LINGUISTIC RESEARCH 

Chile is located along the southwestern coast of South America, with Argentina to the east, Bolivia to the northeast, and Peru to the north. There is very little research about the language of Chile and the role that English has in the country. This is likely because of the linguistic perception of South America as the “forgotten continent” (Friedrich & Berns, 83): 

“[Linguists] are more concerned about characterizations of South America as a uniform continental block, as culturally and linguistically monolithic. No doubt the geographical configuration of its individual countries into one easily identifiable body of land contributes to such a perception, but nothing could be further from the truth. (85)